Pesticides in rivers, lakes and groundwater in Europe (Indicator)

Key messages: One or more pesticides were detected above their EU environmental quality standards at 10% to 25% of all surface water monitoring sites between 2013 and 2021. In groundwater, exceedances of the quality standard for one or more pesticides were detected at between 4% and 11% of monitoring sites. Differences in weather, crop type and reporting mean that changes between years may not be significant.

Percentage of reported monitoring sites with pesticides exceeding thresholds in surface waters and groundwater weighted by country area, EEA Member States*, 2013–2020

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Pesticide levels in European surface water and groundwater bodies were assessed against effect or quality thresholds between 2013 and 2021.

At 10% to 25% of all surface water monitoring sites depending on the year, one or more pesticides were detected above the designated effect thresholds. Exceedances were mainly caused by the insecticide imidacloprid and the herbicide metolachlor, some of which were no longer approved for use in plant protection products during the monitoring period.

The proportion of monitoring sites with exceedances has decreased by more than half from 2020 to 2021. Reporting from large countries with few monitoring sites, with fewer exceedances in 2021, may explain part of this decrease owing to weighting by country surface area.

Exceedances of one or more pesticides were also detected at 4% to 11% of groundwater monitoring sites during the monitoring period; these were mainly caused by the herbicide atrazine and its metabolites as well as bentazone.

Imidacloprid, metolachlor and atrazine are no longer approved for use in the EU due to the risk they pose to the environment and human health. Nevertheless, pesticides such as imidacloprid may still be used on crops if emergency authorisation is granted. Atrazine continues to be found in groundwater because it is very persistent.

Please consult the relevant indicators and signals below for a more comprehensive overview on the topic.

Pesticide concentrations from the Waterbase Water Quality database were compared to the thresholds set by the Water Framework Directive for bodies of surface water. For groundwater, a precautionary quality standard of 0.1 µg/L has been set for pesticides in line with the Groundwater Directive.

The results for exceedance within each country are weighted by the relative area of the country compared to the rest of the reporting countries.

The insecticide imidacloprid was approved for use in plant production products until December 2020. In Waterbase Water Quality database, results of metolachlor and S-metachlor are combined. The herbicide metolachlor was not approved during the monitoring period, S-metalochlor was approved until January 2024.
Atrazine was not approved for use in plant protection products during the monitoring period. Bentazone is currently approved until May 2025 and is under review to determine if approval can be renewed.

Although data are now available for eight years, no trends can yet be derived and between-year changes cannot yet be considered significant; while pesticides in surface waters may only be monitored once every three years, losses to the surrounding environment from the application of pesticides on agricultural land may vary considerably between years, depending on factors such as crop type and weather. Monitoring sites might also not always be the same each year. Finally, changes to the approval status of pesticides influence their use and presence in water, which can lead to difficulties in explaining trends over time. For example, due to its high persistence in the environment, atrazine still causes exceedances in spite of the fact that its usage has now been banned.

More information is available at the EEA indicator page.

References and footnotes

EU, 2000, Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for community action in the field of water policy (OJ L 327, 22.12.2000, pp. 1–73).
^a^b
EU, 2006, Directive 2006/118/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 December 2006 on the protection of groundwater against pollution and deterioration (OJ L 372, 27.12.2006, pp. 19–31).
^a^b
EU, 2020, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2020/1643 of 5 November 2020 amending Implementing Regulation (EU) No 540/2011 as regards the approval periods of the active substances calcium phosphide, denathonium benzoate, haloxyfop-P, imidacloprid, pencycuron and zeta-cypermethrin (Text with EEA relevance) (OJ L 370, 6.11.2020, pp. 18–20).
^↵
EU, 2002, COMMISSION REGULATION (EC) No 2076/2002 of 20 November 2002 extending the time period referred to in Article 8(2) of Council Directive 91/414/EEC and concerning the non-inclusion of certain active substances in Annex I to that Directive and the withdrawal of authorisations for plant protection products containing these substances (OJ L 319, 23.11.2002, pp. 3–11).
^↵
EU, 2004, COMMISSION DECISION of 10 March 2004 concerning the non-inclusion of atrazine in Annex I to Council Directive 91/414/EEC and the withdrawal of authorisations for plant protection products containing this active substance (OJ L 78, 16.3.2004, pp. 53–55).
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Pesticides in rivers, lakes and groundwater in Europe (Indicator)

Percentage of reported monitoring sites with pesticides exceeding thresholds in surface waters and groundwater weighted by country area, EEA Member States*, 2013–2020

Relevant objectives under the Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability

Other relevant indicators and signals

References and footnotes